A Contribution by Joy J. Kaimaparamban, author of The Ayurvedic Healer. For more information see also his website at http://www.kaimaparamban.com/.
I know nobody in the world will be ignorant about this half naked man. Despite of his study in law, he himself chosen the dressing of a poor Indian citizen throwing away his pants and such decorations of a barrister.
In his Autobiography ‘My Experiments with Truth’ Gandhi has described all about him.
He was the main sculptor and leader of Indian Independence struggles. His real name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi who took birth in a Vaisya family of Porbandur in Gurarat in 1869 October 2. His father Karamchand Gandhi was a Divan of a native country Rajcot in Katiawad. His mother Puthlibai had great influence in the formation of the conduct of Mohandas.
At the age of 13 he got married with Kasturba. After passing matriculation he went to London for getting a degree in law. Then he practiced as an advocate in India. Connecting with his job he had to go to South Africa where he met with several bitter experiences. Foreigners seemed to be considering the black colored people as slaves.
Gandhi began to think about the real condition of Indians. He read the books of Tolstoy, Thoreau, and Ruskin. He considered that he had the duty of fighting for the well being of Indians who had been living in South Africa.
He contacted with the leaders of India as Gopalakrishna Gokhale and the like. In 1894 an association under the title of ‘Netal Indian Congress’ was formed. A news paper was started in 1904 with the name ‘Indian Opinion. In the next year a Hermitage was formed by Gandhi. So many Indians began to live there as if in a joint family. The authorities were not inactive. Off and on they produced several laws for disturbing the Indians. Gandhi had to resist the cruelties of the white. In the name of ‘Sathyagraha’, he manifested a new method of resistance. It was based on Affection. Truth and Non-violence (Ahimsa).
He wrote a small book ‘Hind Swaraj’, in which he said about an exploitationless society. In that society, the part of the ruling authorities would be small. Each individual would be able to rescue his claims, he described.
In 1915 he returned to India. By 1919 the First World War started. For suppressing the protest of Indians against the war, the British Authorities produced Rowlath Rule. Gandhi led riots basing Truth, Non-violence, celibacy, fearlessness and self-control. During that period his dressing was like of a white man. In 1921 he refused the style by wearing only a Dhothi.
In between there were several riots and arrests. Whenever the people became violent he withdrew the agitations which he had started. For self purification he had adopted ‘Hunger strikes’. No other leader had walked through such paths before.
The support which he had made to Khilaphath Movement caused mental change in some Congress Men. Some of them turned towards Hindu Fundamentalism.
When Swaraj Party was in great force Gandhi got back from politics and spent his time for flourishing the growth of Khadi clothes for four years.
When Nehru declared about getting India full freedom, Gandhi started a struggle with the name of Uppu Sathyagraha, which was violating the right of the government’s claim of making Salt. Following it, people got the right for producing salt from sea water.
In 1934 Gandhi resigned from Congress Party. He began to work for villagers.
When the Second World War started in 1939 without the consent of Indians, the British Authorities made India, a participant of it. The State Congress Cabinets, which had come into ruling in 1937 resigned for showing their protest.
Quit India Movement was getting more strength than before. The Congress Party wanted to wash away the Whites from India.
Hindu Muslim riots spread almost all over India. So many killings were taken place. The British Government thought about the partition of India into two. Gandhi was always dead against it. But his ambition was not fulfilled. In 1947 August 15 two countries were given Independence by the British India and Pakistan.
1948 January 30th was a curse day for Indians. The Mahatma was gunned down by an aggressor.
The Ayurvedic Healer
by Joy J. Kaimaparamban
Set in the intriguing atmosphere of India in the early 20th century, full of mysticism, love, compassion, and political drama, The Ayurvedic Healer tells the story of Madhavan Namboodiri, a physician practicing an ancient medical science, and his enduring love for Rosilie. By healing the underprivileged, regardless of their civilian and religious status, touching the untouchables, he follows his beliefs and disobeys the rules of his society. His life story is set in the background of India’s struggle for freedom, the communist revolt in the Southern State of Kerala, social advancement, and the emergence of new societies. The Ayurvedic Healer sweeps the reader into an exotic place and time, rendering an intimate experience through sharing Madhavan Namboodiri’s life and love.
Joy J. Kaimaparamban is not only a passionate story teller. He envisions people and events, past or present, in his native India as material for unwritten works. These visions and the ability to transform them into fascinating stories about his country is a trademark of his novels. [More information...]
The Ayurvedic Healer ia available through Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Barnes & Noble, and any other good bookstore.
